Designers Tamzin Greenhill and Chad Eisner pull up a seat and find these stylish essentials to be the perfect companions for any dinner party

The Experts

The Experts

Communal meals have always been a binding force for families and even nations, as this month’s turkey dinner reminds us. But while the food lures people in,
it’s the dining chairs that hold the group together, from the first bite till long after the last.

That is, if the chairs are comfortable, says designer Chad Eisner. “I’d sacrifice aesthetics to comfort any day,” he says. Proportions are key: What is roomy to one might be cramped to another. He also likes to mix side chairs (nimbler and narrower) with armchairs (more relaxing). When judging a chair, Eisner advises looking at it from all angles: “More often you will see it from the back, not the front.”

Decorator Tamzin Greenhill says to envision a chair in multiples: “There may be as many as six or eight, so you don’t want them to be overwhelming.” Otherwise, she has few rules. For a recent project she paired a traditional farmhouse table with Eames chairs—a testament to the end of the era of matching dining sets (“Thank God!” she says).

Chad Eisner This southern California designer brings a background in architecture and a warm, tailored style to his interiors. his projects include a London loft and a ski lodge in Vail, Colorado. cweisner.com

Tamzin Greenhill The British-born New York decorator mixes clean-lined furnishings and pops of glamour, as seen in her lounge and office for ELLE DECOR’s Miami showhouse. tamzingreenhill.com

Hair and Makeup by Maysoon Faraj. Produced by Quy Nguyen; Photography by BjÖrn Wallander

1. Wayland side chair by O&G Studio

1. Wayland side chair by O&G Studio

“I love this color—it’s like your grandmother’s chair was given a makeover,” says Chad Eisner of this streamlined take on a traditional Windsor. “And the price is great.” Tamzin Greenhill pictures the playful piece in a casual setting, such as a country house. Given the generous scale, she would use a pair of them at the ends of a table, mixed with other seating. Made of maple and ash, the chair can be ordered in a range of finishes. 25" w. x 23" d. x 42" h.; $680; oandgstudio.com